Posted by Lieutenant John McCandless (Head Nurse) in Resort, Poolside (An open thread)

Posted by Chief Petty Officer Sam Nazarian (Host of Florence’s) in Resort, Poolside (An open thread)

Posted by Lieutenant John McCandless (Head Nurse) in Resort, Poolside (An open thread)
Posted by… suppressed (19) by the Post Ghost! 👻
There were multiple pools, and laying on a lounger at the biggest one, the ship’s bartender had his arms behind his head as he soaked up the sun. In only bright blue swim shorts, it was clear from his reasonably muscled broad chest that the former engineer had kept up at least some of his physical training. Sunglasses on he dozed here and there between sips of a vibrant purple cocktail and some water. People were playing and swimming in the pool but he seemed oblivious to it all. At least outwardly.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

As the number of people in the pool grew beyond his ability to swim in a reasonably straight line, Brad popped out of the water with a scowl. Heaving himself out of the pool entirely, he stalked over to the cabana and ordered its self-proclaimed “Quadrant-Famous Cocktail of Many Colours” before picking out a lounger next to Sam’s and opening the umbrella over it.

He took a deep sip through the crazy-shaped straw it came with and sighed as the burn of alcohol was the first thing to come through, followed by a substantial chunk of pineapple.

“Dunno what I expected, really,” he said, setting the glass to the side with a roll of his eyes.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Sam has been all too aware of the movement beside him and in general was of a mind to let people have their downtime. Brad’s comment made him chuckle. “That’s the problem with having such an awesome bartender on board, it’s hard to get anything comparable elsewhere. Face it Commander, you’re spoiled,” he said with a grin.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

“Chief, I could have made a better drink blindfolded and after a sixteen-hour shift,” Brad groused. “I feel like the whole point of this is that it looks good, not that it actually is good.”

At that moment John walked by. He was in a pair of dark green swimming shorts. He nodded to Brad and Sam as he sat himself down a nearby empty sun lounger, glass of whiskey in hand he let out a satisfied sigh.
“This isn’t half bad is it?” He said with a grin.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

“It’s certainly half-something,” Brad said with a frown.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

John raised an eyebrow catching the grim undertone.
“Not your ideal cup of tea eh Commander?” John asked.

Lt John McCandless, Head Nurse

“A cup of tea would be better than this,” Brad agreed, lifting his drink and taking another sip, then wincing once again. “Whatever bartending school passed the imbecile that made this needs to be shut down.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

“Hey, don’t look at me to save the day. I’m off for once,” Sam said with a grin.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

“Fair enough,” Brad said, taking a third and final sip, followed by a third and final wince, before he threw the entire drink - glass and all - over his shoulder into the shrubberies.

“I gave it a chance, now it’s time to switch to straight bourbon,” he said, stalking back over to the bar.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

John chuckled and emptied his glass.
“Could you bring me one Commander? I’m all out! Thanks!” Turning to Sam he smiled.

“Sure thing,” Brad said, over his shoulder.

“John McCandless, Head Nurse. I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting yet.”

Lt. John McCandless (Head Nurse)

Sam reached out his hand. “Sam Nazarian, former Chief Petty Officer Nazarian. I now run Florence’s on the Ogawa. And I make an amazing cocktail,” he added with a flash of a grin.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

John leaned over and shook Sam’s hand.
“Ah, well I’ll be sure to come by soon and try one of your famous cocktails then!”

A few minutes later, Brad returned with two tumblers of an amber liquid, offering one to McCandless.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

“Ah thank you kindly Sir.” John stated taking the glass and sipping with a satisfied “ah”.
“I do like like cocktails, but nothing beats a good old whiskey.” He turned to Sam. “You know I was raised near the Laphroaig distillery on Islay? Now that, will put hairs on ya’ chest.” He rambled with a grin, his Scottish accent becoming more pronounced with thoughts of home.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

Sam chuckled. “I’m sure it did. But a nice thing to have in your backyard. When I was a teenager we were back living with my Czech grandparents. I have this one very vivid memory of learning all about Czech drinking culture at seventeen at a party. You see, shots are a big deal. The idea is if you can match a person shot-for-shot, then you’re deemed trustworthy.” He laughed. “I was in so much trouble given how hungover I was the next day, but my grandfather pulled me aside and asked what we had been drinking. So I told him. He smirked, patted my shoulder, and walked off.”

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

John chuckled as Sam told his tale.
“Bet you don’t remember much of that night.” John replied with a grin. He was about launch into a story of his own when he was distracted by Navale.

Navale had finally gotten away from engineering and planetside. Let space dock deal with all the repairs. Navale loved her machines and the challenge of diagnosing and fixing, but some diversion and change of scenery was in order. There was always the holodeck, but nothing beat a real different place. She walked out toward the pool in a copper one piece with a towel draped over her arm. She had learned to swim at the Academy and it was her favorite way to spend vacation. She tossed her towel onto a chair and climbed the ladder to the high dive. She walked out testing the spring and then backed all the way up. She sprinted to the end, bounced once on the end and leaped off. She tumbled and tucked and fell into the water in a loud cannonball that splashed out of the pool.

The flash of copper fabric caught Sam’s eye and he watched the wearer move across the pool deck. Then he realized it was Navale. He smiled, drinking in her form, even as he sipped from his glass.

She surfaced a moment later, head tilted back to keep her hair out of her face. She laughed as the surface broke around her and then swam in strong strokes toward the side of the pool to make way for the next diver.

Lt. Huzzen, Engineer

The water had hit the deck but not quite all the way to their loungers. “Save some of the pool water for everyone else, won’t you?” Sam called over to Huzzen.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

Navale paused and twisted in the water to see who had shouted at her. She spotted Sam and she grinned wider. “I don’t see you using it. If you want to share then get in here!” She flipped in the water, going under and swam toward the far end of the pool.

“Hmmm,” he said loudly, tapping a finger on his chin as if puzzling over a great debate.

John raised an eyebrow and watched as Huzzen dove and landed in the pool. He wasn’t going to lie she certainly was attractive. No John, you can’t. Not after what happened last time. He sighed to himself as he sipped his drink. He turned to Sam again, more for a distraction than anything else.
“So Sam, how did a Chief Petty Officer end up owning a fancy bar?” He asked, trying not to look over to the Engineer.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

Reaching the end, she pulled herself out at the ladder and then strode to the otherside, and the marked lanes. She sliced into the water again.

Lt. Huzzen, Engineer

“Well, I don’t own it since it’s the ship’s lounge, but I have the privilege of managing everything about it. Captain Myqian has graciously given me a lot of leeway to do as I see fit,” Sam said, trying to not be distracted by the woman cutting through the water with such elegance. “But uh, after I retired I still liked the idea of being around Starfleet and took up bartending. A bit strange after being an engineer perhaps, but I always liked cooking and making drinks. Serving them to people and making conversation just makes for a nice day a lot of the time.”

As he spoke he was trying to come up with something to say to Navale next.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

John nodded as he listened to Sam, he noticed him glancing over towards Navale.
“It is quite the leap for an Engineer. Although they do say that cooking is a bit of a science.” He then nodded towards Navale.
“You and her have something going on eh?” He asked with a grin.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

“You might be able to call it something,” Sam said, a smile tugging at his lips again. “Or at least there was the openness to something. No sure what will happen.” He looked at John. “I’ve always loved that temporary place. The anticipation of what might be, but no certainty about any of it. Always a little thrilling.”

John chuckled. “Aye, I know what you mean. That’s a little too unknowing for me. I like to know where I stand.” He replied.

“As for the food, I come by it naturally. That and I got to sample cuisines from all over when I was enlisted.”

~Sam, Host of Florence’s

John nodded.
“Do you have any specialities? Anything I should try next time I come by the lounge?” He asked.

Lt John McCandless, Head Nurse

“Well, cocktails with unusual ingredients are becoming my favourite. And I like making desserts. But if you give me a dish you love and if I don’t know it, I love researching and exprimenting with trying to make it.

~Sam, Host of Florence’s